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Federal National Council okays tough anti-terror bill

The Federal National Council (FNC) has approved a landmark draft law to prevent and combat terrorist activities in the country and the region at large.

The law, which was passed during an extraordinary meeting that began on Monday night and concluded in the early hours of Tuesday, is considered one of the toughest and most comprehensive and of international level. It stipulates capital punishment to life imprisonment in addition to huge financial fines when enacted against those found guilty.

The draft stipulates that those found guilty of attacking or threatening the President, the Vice-President or any of the Rulers of the Emirates and their family members, and those conspiring against the state and government will face capital punishment.

The bill also deals with secret organisations with evil intentions and organisations and individuals having links with militants outfits based outside the country.

Those involved in such activities will face life imprisonment and financial fines ranging between Dh1 million and Dh100 million.

The bill also includes a wide range of related criminal issues, including human trafficking and money laundering, financing of terrorist and other crimes. Those involved in carrying out, planning or assisting to carry out terrorist activities in the country or planning such activities outside but planned here will face these penalties.

The anti-terrorist draft bill, according to officials and council members, is also one of the bills which was approved by the council without any delay.

For the first time, the FNC had to call for a meeting during its summer recess and that too at night to discuss and clear the bill at the earliest for its immediate implementation.

The meeting on Monday night was held behind closed doors, attended by ministers concerned and senior government officials and experts. The bill was approved by the council after minor but constructive amendments and will be sent back to the Cabinet which, after its approval, will refer it for Presidential assent.

“The meeting went through article by article and clause by clause in the law and finally approved it with minor amendments and recommendations. We expect the law to receive the Presidential assent soon and it will be implemented without delay. The entire house was unanimous of the view the bill should be approved and implemented as soon as possible to enable us make the country’s security soundproof,” said a member after the meeting.

“It is a well-drafted bill and that is why it did not require lengthy debates causing delays. It has been carefully reviewed by the council in-house Legislative and Legal Affairs Committee several times with recommendations and minor amendments that the members agreed and approved it,” said a member.

According to members and observers, it was the right time to speed up the approval and implementation of the law when terrorist activities are spreading around the world, including in the region.

nissar@khaleejtimes.com